UNION RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL CONNECTIONS ALL MEMBERS VOTE! EXERCISE YOUR MEMBER-OWNER RIGHT TO VOTE ALL MEMBERS VOTE FOR ALL DISTRICTS Check your mailbox your ballot will be arriving soon. You may vote one of two ways: online or by mail. If you choose to mail in your vote, please mail your ballot by May 22 to ensure delivery by the NEW voting deadline: May 31. Winners will be announced at the Annual Meeting of Members June 3 beginning at 9 a.m. All candidates were asked to provide the following information: 1. List your employment and education 2. Other relevant experience 3. Why are you interested in becoming a member of the URE Board of Trustees or serving another term? 4. What, in your opinion, are the greatest challenges facing the Cooperative in the next three to five years? TIMELINE May 2017 Official meeting notice in May magazine May 13, 2017 Latest ballots can be mailed to members (20 days prior to annual meeting) May 23, 2017 Regular board meeting June 2017 Final meeting notice in June magazine May 31, 2017 NEW DEADLINE: Ballots due June 3, 2017 Annual meeting, 9 a.m. at URE June 27, 2017 Reorganization meeting to elect board officers Lesley Bimonte 639 Gallop Lane My background is quality control and management in manufacturing and corporate settings. I was most recently employed by Scotts Miracle-Gro for nine years. I m currently working as a data analyst for AcuSport and am the business manager for my family-owned small business in Union County, Linear IT Solutions. I have a BS in physics from the University of Dayton with a concentration in computer science. I have served on various community committees, including three years as the nominating chair and education chair for the Columbus chapter of the American Society for Quality quality professionals transforming the world s corporations and communities to meet tomorrow s challenges. I want to provide a fresh, young perspective from my experience as an active member of this community. Mostly, I want to aid in providing our community with safe, efficient, and trustworthy services. The Co-op will be challenged the same as all other businesses: A new political climate will call for many changes affecting how we, as a country and community, act and operate. Assuring the needs of our members are always placed first in any new decisions affecting commerce and operations will be our greatest challenge. 20 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING MAY 2017 MAY Union 12 pages.indd 2
Gary Lee 17421 Waldo Rd Union County Commissioner, board president Lee Farms Ohio State University College of Agriculture Past president: County Commissioners Association of Ohio; Trinity Lutheran Church and school; Union County Community Foundation; Ohio Soybean Association; County Employees Benefit Consortium of Ohio; Union County Board of Elections Past Secretary; American Soybean Association Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year I have been served by Union Rural Electric Co-op my whole life. Our farm, Lee Farms, was URE s first commercial customer when they expanded into the natural gas business. I agreed to easements that URE needed to install lines to the Coleman s Crossing shopping center. Many of URE s customers have since benefited by having their homes heated by less expensive natural gas. As your Union County Commissioner, I worked closely with Heritage Cooperative in their decision to locate in the county. Today, Heritage is a significant customer of URE, and farmers have the opportunity for increased profits. As Union Rural Electric continues to grow, I believe that my experience can be an asset to our Cooperative. Electrical generation availability and cost Local transmission lines new line construction; maintenance of present service lines Changing technology Rev. Dr. David Moreland 1459 Adena Point Dr. Retired Lutheran pastor served parishes in Ohio BA Wittenberg University, M. Div., Hamma School of Theology Dr. Min., Lutheran School of Theology Chicago Volunteer fire/ems grant writing; Board of directors, Logan County Chamber of Commerce; Ministerial and community organizations - Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), CAC; Organizer and director of Transient Assistance Program; International Friendship Center of Logan County. Recently retired, I am looking for ways to be significantly involved in the life and growth of our community. My experience serving on other boards and agencies gives me understanding of community dynamics and needs. Serving as a trustee of URE provides an opportunity to work with others to address issues confronting us in our rapidly growing community. Providing effective and low-cost service to their consumers is the main goal and primary challenge of the cooperative. Development, planning, and research are all components of that goal and serve to provide incentive and opportunity for growth in the area served. Responding to the ever-changing regulatory climate is a challenge. We live in a time of shifting priorities (i.e. moving away from reliance on coal-generated power to other sources). The cooperative must be forward-looking and planning for the future demands placed upon it. MAY 2017 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 20A MAY Union 12 pages.indd 3
UNION RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL CONNECTIONS Roe Riegel 17875 Waldo Rd BS degree from Rio Grande 1971 MS degree from Ashland University 1999 For 35 years, I was a fifth-grade science teacher at Teays Valley Local Schools. Following retirement, I worked part time until 2011 at Lowes (Lancaster) in the hardware department. I have been a farmer since 1964 on our family farm. As a child, I joined 4-H and later, as an adult, served as a club leader and a member of a county 4-H committee. I have held elected positions in various organizations including church council. As a lifelong member of rural electric cooperatives, I understand the importance of a strong, stable community connection between a cooperative s members and its board of trustees. I want to be an active contributing member of my community and electric cooperative. I feel the greatest challenges are keeping costs under control and managing government regulations while listening to the concerns and responding to the cooperative s members. Dale Scheiderer 14021 St. Rt. 736 Self-employed farmer BS degree agricultural education The Ohio State University Completed 22 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) training courses earning Board Leadership and Director Gold certification URE, board of trustees 2008 - present Champaign Landmark, board of directors 1995-2009 Heritage Cooperative, board of directors 2009-present, currently vice-chairman Paris Township zoning commission St. John s Lutheran Church past congregation chairman, elder FFA advisory committee I have done my best to be a dedicated, informed, and educated trustee striving to offer sound and objective input to board decisions. As Union County grows, URE must keep pace, but with careful, calculated precision. I would be deeply honored to retain your trust for another term, and will continue to strive to maintain and protect your growing investment. As a patron, my concerns are affordable, competitive rates and dependable service. As a trustee, I also understand that worker safety cannot be compromised. All of these must be top priorities in our decision-making process, yet managing costs and maintaining efficiencies locally cannot be sacrificed. The big picture challenges are higher generation and transmission costs, integrating alternative energy sources, conforming to government regulation, and environmental sensitivity. 20B OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING MAY 2017 MAY Union 12 pages.indd 4
DISTRICT 6 Robert Carpenter 13088 Weaver Rd. SEI Engineers, Inc. Bachelors in Construction Management at Bowling Green State University I have over 30 years of project management and private business experience in material handling for the coal, cement, and alternative fuel industries. I ve represented large companies successfully completing multi-million dollar projects, giving the client more efficient material-handling operations while lowering their overhead costs. As a Union County resident and co-op member, I ve always been impressed with the URE organization and how they support the community. Becoming a board member would give me the opportunity to help ensure the success of the cooperative by offering my skills and experience. GREATEST CHALLENGES Managing rising energy costs and the changing needs of the cooperative members. Over the past decade, the focus on alternative energy sources has increased. We need to maintain a balance of current resources while continuing to evaluate alternative energies and the cost impacts of their generation. DISTRICT 6 Dane H. Espenschied 9555 Ward Rd. Plain City Honda of America, Mfg., Inc., 1983 until 2013 (retired) BS in production & operations management, The Ohio State University Started on an assembly line and worked up through the company including experience in: new model, purchasing R&D and procurement, developed the logistics department, production control system development, corporate trainer, plant management, and supply chain leadership. Retired as vice president/chief advisor. To support my community and share best practices developed through 30 years of continuous growth at Honda. Maintain & improvement of the safety of URE associates/customers while supplying clean, steady, and cost-competitive services to our customers. Environmental awareness surrounding electrical services and development of education programs focusing on consumer conservation. Good corporate neighbor and set example for existence in our community. MAY 2017 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 20C MAY Union 12 pages.indd 5
UNION RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL CONNECTIONS DISTRICT 6 Jeff Reinhard 14430 Robinson Rd Plain City Retired school administrator (45 years service) Professional/ personal leadership coach Reinhard Auctions; licensed auctioneer BS The Ohio State University M.Ed., Xavier University Educational Consultant/Program Facilitator St. John s Lutheran Church Member; Vice Chairman; Stephens Minister Ohio FFA Alumni; Past State Officer; Honor Flight Columbus Guardian NRECA Credentialed Board Leadership Gold Director As an incumbent candidate, having served URE for 12 years, I hope to continue promoting our unique mission: THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE TO SERVE THEMSELVES! I believe I have the skills and capacity to help build relationships among members and to make fiscally sound decisions, grounded in integrity. I feel that I have helped to enrich the work of URE as Vice Chairman and will continue to work with fellow board members, our CEO, and staff collaboratively. I pledge to work diligently ensuring the core beliefs of the co-op are upheld; that our cooperative is locally owned; and that our consumers come first! Managing growth in our service territory, protecting our environment, and keeping current with technology are our greatest challenges. If re-elected to the board of trustees, I pledge myself to help address these issues, while providing safe, reliable, economic power for generations to come! DISTRICT 6 Abe Shoots 19160 Boerger Rd. BS Agriculture, The Ohio State University. O.M. Scott and Sons - R&D Division (9 years) Honda of America Manufacturing - Paint Department (26 years) - Technical Planning Group (4 years) As an assistant manager of the MAP paint department, I managed the budget and lead safety and environmental groups. In corporate planning, I traveled to North American paint departments to share with them technological advancements to support their operation. These experiences have helped me to quickly understand the needs of an organization and to find solutions. I wish to serve the URE members and enhance their joy of being a customer. I would like to work with the other board members and URE officers to improve the reliability and cost of electrical service. I am a proponent of renewable energy and wish to support the drive in technology to make it more affordable. I feel the greatest challenges will be in the field of technology and infrastructure. The three technological challenges will be adapting new technology as it becomes available, maintaining URE staff technological skills, and cyber security. Infrastructure challenges will be both maintaining the current infrastructure and expanding the infrastructure to meet the demands of this growing community. 20D OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING MAY 2017 MAY Union 12 pages.indd 6 4/17/17 4:35 PM
DISTRICT 6 James Teitt 15833 Bellepoint Rd. I have worked for, directed, managed, and consulted for energy developers, regulators, and electric and gas companies across the U.S. over 40 years. I received a BS (1974) and MS (1977) in the environmental sciences from Virginia Tech. I have worked collaboratively with energy stakeholders over my career, consulting on environmental, engineering, economic, social, and regulatory issues affecting traditional, renewable, and alternative power supplies and electric and gas transmission and distribution, to secure sustainable, long-term, efficient, and safe electric and gas operations for power companies and rural electric cooperatives. I believe I offer URE s members a balanced sense of smart growth management, and an appreciation of how to further URE s past success in providing safe, economical, reliable, and secure electric and gas service for its customers in a rapidly growing service area. GREATEST CHALLENGES I anticipate attempts at the federal level to reform energy regulation, finance and taxes, and environmental policy over that time frame, and additional growth pressures locally. We will need to determine whether and how best to respond, consulting with NRECA, OREC, Buckeye Power, and others to sustain the level and costs of service our members require, and to preserve URE s rural character. OFFICIAL INVITATION YOU ARE INVITED! June 3 URE 15461 US Route 36 8:30 a.m. registration URE ANNUAL MEETING RECEIVE A $10 ENERGY CREDIT FOR EACH MEMBERSHIP REPRESENTED. Members are invited to hear about the state of the cooperative and learn about its future at this business meeting. 9 a.m. meeting light refreshments to follow MAY 2017 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 20E MAY Union 12 pages.indd 7 4/17/17 4:35 PM